I'm a transplanted Brit, living in Greece for the past quarter of a century.
Long of limb, broad of beam, open of mind and impatient of nature, I can sometimes wreak havoc without meaning to.
But I MEAN well....

Thursday, 30 March 2017

Part of the breed
of Greeks caught up in the country’s financial crisis, he is no quitter.

He’s the man behind the decks for Deejay Nic The Band,
a genre-breaking group which features a signature Rockstep style combining
sampling with live rock and dubstep performance. He’s also one of the leading
lights of the Modern Mental Rebels™ (MMR), a non-profit organisation which
promotes the independent Greek rock scene.

MMR taps into a rich seam of modern musical talent
that does not fit comfortably into the country’s mainstream music scene. It
cemented its reputation with its successful staging of the Greek finals of the
Global Battle of the Bands (GBOB) in 2015, and again 2016. The MMR concerts
started in 2014, and continue today. For each show, 4-5 bands share equal
billing, giving audiences a multiple artist experience at an affordable price.

We asked Deejay Nic for his thoughts about MMR,
Greece’s independent music scene, and how bands can take control of their own
future.

Explain the concept of the Modern Mental Rebellion
concerts.

There are no headliners. The bands have equal billing
and help make the gigs happen. It’s collaborative, not competitive. We draw on
the expertise of MMR volunteers to apply management methods to the organisation
and promotion of concerts, and through that joint effort we give bands with a
great platform to showcase their music and, hopefully, the audience a night to
remember.

Can artists outside the Greek mainstream to make their
mark?

Greece is a small market, where most people favour
mainstream Greek pop or folk music, Even if you make it “big” here as an
alternative band, it won’t be BIG. However, to attract labels or managers from overseas
you have to make a buzz in your local market. That’s what our MMR stablemates,
Coretheband from Crete, have done through their own efforts and with the
support of MMR. They’re now preparing to take their first steps beyond Greek
borders. Remember their name. You heard it here first.

How are things going for Deejay Nic the Band? What
have been the highlights so far? What are your future plans?We’ve only be going for a little under two years but
we already done a lot. Our first CD, featuring two original tracks, came out
recently,and we’re very proud of it. In terms of live performance, our 2016 appearance
at the Zeytinli Rock Festivali in Turkey is hard to beat – our first time
outside Greece and we played to 130,000 people. This is just the beginning. I always
have my eyes open for opportunities for the band. The sky’s the limit!

What advice would you give young people considering a music career?

Being a great musician is not enough to secure
success. Promoting yourself is vital. Aim to excel at both.

The first in a series of United MMR concerts will be tomorrow, Friday 31 March 2017, at the Crow Club at Sinopis 27, Ambelokipi, Athens. The music starts at 10.30pm and goes on til the early hours of the morning.

For just €5 you'll enjoy the exprience of four bands live and loud. On 31 March, the line-up is:

Caught Art Delusion

Entropy DevineHeavenblack

Sin By Four

On 28 April, Deejay Nick The Band take the stage, together with Perfect Denial, Smolderhaze and Wash of Sounds.